Pinned on Places

In this week’s post, we are so excited to be in Scotland’s smallest city with a visit to the iconic and mighty Stirling Castle. Crucial to the nation’s story, this fortress is filled with icons of Scotland’s historic fighting spirit and bursting with incredible stories of warfare and bloody sieges. Its formidable walls breathe hundreds of years of history; it’s rustic and has grit, just like the Scots themselves. Join us at Stirling Castle.

The stories of Scotland and Stirling Castle are intertwined; the castle has played host to some of the most dramatic and important events in Scottish history. Overlooking the sites of two pivotal battles—Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn—it has served as both a military stronghold and a royal palace. The craggy peak it stands on was formed by a volcanic eruption over 350 million years ago and was later sculpted by retreating ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age.

The first building we enter is the Palace Vaults, located underneath the Royal Palace. Each vault was once designated for a different section of the royal household. Today, they house interactive exhibitions including the Musicians Vault, Jester’s Vault, Painter’s Vault, Carvers Vault, and Tailor’s Vault. These rooms provide a fascinating look at the music, clothing, and craftsmanship that once animated the castle.

From the “Ladies’ Lookout,” visitors can view the area that once served as the jousting ground and the King and Queen’s Knots below. These earthwork mounds, built in 1265 and remodeled in 1633, were part of the formal gardens where the queen and her ladies would watch knights compete in tournaments.

The Royal Palace itself is considered one of the best-preserved Renaissance buildings in Great Britain. Built by James V and Mary of Guise, it features lavishly decorated apartments designed to display wealth and sophistication. Inside the Queen’s Inner Hall, the walls are hung with the “Hunt of the Unicorn” tapestries—newly created replicas of James V’s personal collection. The King’s Inner Hall is equally remarkable, featuring the “Stirling Heads,” a series of intricately carved oak bosses depicting royalty, biblical figures, and mythological heroes.

Beyond the palace lies the Chapel Royal, completed in 1594 for the christening of Prince Henry, and the Great Hall. Built around 1503, the Great Hall is the largest medieval hall in Scotland, distinguished by its magnificent hammerbeam roof and five massive fireplaces. This grand space was the site of the first-ever recorded fireworks display in Scotland in 1566. For a change of pace, the Great Kitchens offer a glimpse into the grueling daily life of the servants who prepared vast quantities of food and ale for the court.

Finally, we visit the Douglas Garden at the highest point of the rock. This peaceful area was the site of a gruesome event in 1452 when James II stabbed the 8th Earl of Douglas 26 times before his courtiers threw the body out of a window. Stirling Castle is a true Scottish gem—a living set full of soul, history, and mystery.

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Till Next Time!